Mechanism control



Sheets-Sheet l l: 1 En E.

S. Af SNELL MECHANISM CONTROL Filed May 23, 1956 Aug. l5, 1939 amae/6nd/ Sum/ww Aug.15, 1939 SA. SNELL 2,169,888

IECHANISM QONTROL Filed May 23, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

ATTORNEY PalemeliAeg, 1s, '1939 l,'llssalzall .UNITED vrsrTES PATINT'QP-HCE WHSZNM. l 'Y l samuel A. Snell, Toledo, Ohio, miglior, by meme lts, to The corporation of Ohio Logan Gear Sompany, a

'Application May aspre-ass, serial No. 811,515`

' reclama (ci. i4-.531)

AThis invchtion relates to control mechanism and :particularly toa'lever mechanism of a type suitablyllladapted for vehicle control or`other apparatus. .A 5 The invention contemplatesI the provision lof yalever mechanism embodying a clutching means whereinl the mechanism maybe adjusted 'and retained in' any desired positiol'i'.A Y

The invention has for an object the'p'rovision lll-of a lever and clutcharrangement particularly adaptable in controlling the operation of brakeing mechanisms wherein the extent' ofv move` ment ofthe lever tov brakesetting position may vary-under operating'- conditions, the clutohingar- 15 rangement being'of. such nature as to retain the.

` leve in any position of 'adjustmentf y A further object of invention'is the pro vlsion'of a lever `arrangement wherein the same may belpositively retained 'in any position and '20 yet may be easily andquickly released with very Y llttleenort. A Y

Another object 'oi the.inventlon is the pro- A vision-of lever mechanismembodying a releasing `means which= may'beco-extensive with a Alever g5and arrangedto cover portions of the lever, thus eliminating' thenecessity of applying a iine nnish to certain-parts of the lever.

A further of the invention'lsithe provision of 'a-le ver having a grip'portion formed sa of mouldedmaterial such-as rubber, phenolcondensation' product or other plastic which may be fabricated invariouscolor schemes to match" the, other vehicle controls or 'interiorappoint-A ments. f f f y ,35 Af frther'olg'st of the'inventionis theprovision of' a le er mechanism wherein the maior` parts are formed'fron sheet material thus eil'ecting substantial reduction in the expenseof manufature and assembly and enhancing the uni- 40 formity andinterchangeability oi' parts.

- Further' obiectsand advantages are within the scopevofthis inventionsuch as relate to the-arrangemlent, `operation and f function of the re-45v of construction and to combinations of parts, ele-g ments per4se,.and' to ecoomies oi" manufacture 'and numerous other features aswill be apparent froma'cosideration oi the specication and- 1 drawingsof a form of the invention, which may 50 be'preferred,inwhich: l'

Figure .1 is a fragmentary side elevational view ofthe forwardl portionof 'an automotive vehicle,

aportion of the .side wellbeing broken away to illustrate a methodofmounting the mechanism 55 control arrangement of my invention; Y

' per `portion' of the mec Figure 2 is a side elevational view of oneform oi the mechanism control of mv invention; Figure 3 is a'longitudinal sectional View taken l substantially upon the line 8 3 ofFigure 2; -1

Figlre 4 .is an elevational view of the'upper 5 being 4broken away; A

. Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail, view showing Vthe clutch amusement'and a portion of the 1 releasing means therefor; .10

"Figure-Gis a-transverse sectional view taken substantially on the lineB-S of Figure 2; Figure '1` is' a transverse detail sectionalview takenysubstantially on the line i-l of Figure 2;'

.portion ofthe mechanimsin control, certain mgm 's illustrates a. modmedform o: meen.` 4lisj anism control oi .my invention; '1 Figure 9 is afront elevational view of ti1e'up7` hanlsm control shown in Figure 8;

. Figure-1o is en enlarged fragmentary-detail 20' view illustrating aform of clutclrand related parts forming a part of the present inventionand their relationship in normal or brake released position? l' Y Figurellisa view similarto Figure 10 showing 25 the clutch 'and related partswhen the mechaliism ismoved to operative or brake setting position: l

Figure 12 is e detail sectional vlew teken sul);

stem-rally @n che unen-leef Figure s; 30

Figure-1?' lee-seccional vderen view taken'fub- I have illustrated themechanism control of invention as particularly utilized asa means 'ofemergency brake control fory automotive ve A (35 lReferring to.thed'rawings'iin detail and particularly Figuren-"I have illustrated theforward 40 lportion I0 of an automotive vehicle'body of conventionaldesign having acowl portion I'l,` a dash '.portion I2., 'toe boardl3,vinstrument board i4 1 :ed elements of the structure. to variousdetalls) and steering post or ,column' |5. It has been J 'founddesirable toJl'nount a brake control mech- 454 anisln in such a mannerthat the same mailr be viewed from the d rivers positionand is carriedby a support or bracket I9 secured to the cowl frame construction 20 orother suitable portion 55 mounted rearwardly of the dash board I2 andrisheld 4in place by a plurality oi!l rivets 2| or 'other suitable meanspassing through openings 22 in thesupport illustrated in Figure 2.

The bracket I9 in the present embodiment forms a supporting means forthe lever mechanism of my invention. The lever mechanism includes alever or.1ever member 26 which is pivotally carried by .the support I9,the latter'being preformed with a uniplanar portion 24. The upextremityof the lever member 26 is provided with a portion 21 having parallelside wall portions or projections 29 vand 36 which in the embodimentillustrated in Figures 1 through 4 inclusive, are joined together by anintegral lateral flange'portion 3|, the wall portions 29 and 36 beingsecured to ,a bar-like member 33 by means of rivets 34 passing throughaligned openings in the portion 21 .and the bar-like member. The sidewall projections and the iiange portion 3| are joined integrally forminga member designated by 21, but it is to be understood that the member 21'may be an integral formation with the portion 33 of the lever member ashereinafter described.

The parallel side wall projections 29 'and 30 l of the lever member arearranged to-straddle the uniplanar portion 24 of the support I9 and arepivotally connected to the support by means of a pin or pintle 26', inthe embodiment illustrated, the pin being surrounded by a bushing 25upon which the lever member is journalled as a fu1' crum. Forsimpliiication of assembly of the mechanism, it has been found desirableto utilize a separate bushing 25 in `addition to .the

pin or pintle 26 although 'these elements may .be integrally formedtogether without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. The openinginthe lever accommodating the bushing is slightly-largerthanthe bushingin order to permit thelever to have a limited vertical `movement withrespect to the support I9.' which arrangement facilitates themanufacture and assembly of the/ mechanism as it is not necessary tomaintain such a high degree of accuracy in `fabricating certain parts ofthe mechanism aswellas' to accomplish other purposes as hereinafterexplained.

In order to facilitate the lation of the lever mechanism, I haveprovided at the depending extremity of the lever member 26 a hand gripportion 36 which may be fabricated of moulded material such as rubber,phenol condensation product, or one of the usual well known "plastics.or other suitable material which is preferably formed to. acon'gurationproviding a grip portion which not only willconvenientlyaccommodate the hand -of the vehicle operator,

but is of a conguration presenting a pleasing appearance. In theembodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the grip portion 36 is of mouldedrubber which may be secured to'the lever body member 33 in any.desirable ruianner.- In the' form shown. the grip portion may beseparately moulded with a central h'ollo portion andoiieedge ofthemember 33 serrated as at 4l to form By fabricating this'grip teethpreferauy 'of ratchet configuration. 'me

grip portion 'may then be forced upon th'e extremity of member 33 to theproper position and lthe teeth ofthe serrated portion will embed in therubber grip member d prevent .its removal. n rtion of rubberlor ofphenol condensation product or other mouldable plastics or the like,various colors DI 112m@ actuatiz'yn` or manipugrips may be obtained sothat the structure may, if desired, conform in color scheme to the otherinterior appointments of the vehicle.

A force transmitting means in the form of cable 43 or other 4suitablemeans may be connected through the medium of a clevis 44 and a pin 45 toanopening 46 in the portion 21 of the lever member 26 or, if desired,the connection to the connecting cable may be made by suitableconnection to the,barlike member 33 depending upon the poweradvantage-desired for actuating the brake or other mechanism which maybe connected to the cable 43. f

My invention incorporates a .clutching means forlocking' the levermember and associated mechanismv in any position at which it may beadjusted and incorporates a simple yet effective releasing means.Theuniplanar. portion 24 of the bracket I9 is provided with a slot oropening 48 preferably having opposed arcuate' surfaces or bounding edges49 and 56 preferably generated as radii of different dimension about theaxis of the pin 26 as acenter. Positioned' within the slot 48 is a'blockor member 52 which is secured by means of rivets `53 or otherwisefastened to the projections 29 and 36 of the member 26. The

- particular configuration of the block or abutment 5.2 is` illustratedin Figure 4 having a curved or arcuate surf e 54 which has.substantially the same curvature asthe wall 49 of slot 46, the loweredge wall of the block `52 having an arcuate conguration 55 of acurvature substantially coincident with the curvature of the .wall 56 ofthe slot 46, there being sufficient clearance' between the arcuatesurfaces 54, 55 and 49, 50 so as to normally permit free slidablemovement o f the .block 52 within the arcuate slot 46. The block 52 isprovided with a recess 51 having a wall 56 with side wall portions 62'and al central bight portion 63 which terminates at its upper extrem--ity in'spacedparallel portions 'or projections 64 and 6 5 whichstraddle' the uniplanar portion 24 of the support or bracket I9. Theprojectionsf 64 and 65 are. provided ywith aligned openings which alsoreceive the rivet or pin 26', the-latter acting as a pivotal axis forthe clutch actuating member 6|. The projections 64' and 66 are alsoprovided with aligned sldts or opening 61 through which extends a pin orrivet 66, the latter also ,extending through a central opening in theclutchroller 66. 'I'he elongation ofthe -slots 61 `in the embodimentillustratedlis longitudinally of the `member 6I so. as to permit slightvertical freedom of movement of the' pin 6,6 andthe clutch roller '66independent of themember 6| for fa purpose to be hereinafter explained.The' clutch actuating member 6I is preferably arranged to urge theclutch Il toward clutching position under the iniiuence of spring means.In the form'of the invention illustrated, this spring means comprises atension plate which is securedito the bar-like portion 33 of the leverbymeans of a screw 16 or by welding or other suitable securing means, thefree end of the spring. extending within the U-shaped nconfigurationofthe member 6I and contacting with the Il thereof to urge the latteraway from the body portion of theleven If desired.`the springjmeans maybe'secu'red to member with its free' end contacting the lever memberwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. The dependingportion of the member 6i is preferably curved and formed as to provide afinger piece '|2` as .particularly shown in Figure 7, providingmeansengas'edby. thethumb of the vehicle operator. toconveniently release theclutch mechanism. In a lever of this character the actuating member Il.being of suitable U-'shaped 'configuration is so arranged as to embraceportions of the lever formed ofmembers 21 and 33 and thus partiallycovers these members to `conceal them from-normal vision ofy the vehicleoperator from t e operators position.`

Thus, it is ordinarily onl necessary-to polish or finish the exteriorsurface of the clutch, actuating member 6| as this member togetherwith'the grip portion I8 is substantially the only portion of thecontrol mechanism that `is readily visible to persons occupying 'theseats of the vehicle. In this trated as fabricated of a piece'ofcomparativelyconnection-1t is `to be noted that on moet vehicles theinstrument board Il, as indicated in Figure l, substantially obscures.the upper portion of the control arrangement of this nature i'rom'thethin sheet metal or the" like .preferably folded `:s member and thusprovides amanipulating means 'I2' which conveniently accommodates thehand of the vehicle operator.- A platefspring .6'9"is also interposedbetween the `lever member-i4 and fthe clutch'relea'sing or actuatingmember 6i' to normally urge thev clutch roller toward clutching of thischaracter, thedepression 'of the portion f 12. of theclutch actuatingmemberby' thel operator causes relative'movement of the member 6i' withrespect't the levermember 1l torelease the clutch roller and permit thelever mem- -ber' to` be swung -in a clockwise direction to releasethebrakes.

In both forms of the invention illustrated, it

lis desirable for the successful construction and open-ation of thearrangement of my invention that there be clearance either between. thepoint of connection of the clutch rollerwith the clutch to a YU-shapedco'nguration to `increase the strengthof the lever member. Thee-upperlportion of the lever or levermember is formed with` projecting spacedwall portions 28' which -stradj die the support 24' in the samemanneras-illustrated' in the. form of the invention disclosed.

in fFi'gu're 2. "Immediately beneath thesupport or-bracket 2B the wallportions converge .yet

`continue the vU- shstped eonguration forming thev lower portion, ofllthe lever membeiz,V -The edge portions of the' u-shapedfconfigurationadjacent. -thelower extremity of'the'levermember are pref.

erably 'notched or serrated as illustrated at 'I8 actuating member or,clearance between the clutch actuating member and its .pivotalconposition. When 'it'is desired to release the levernection with thelever member or, as illustrated in-Figure 9, clearance between Vtheclutch releasing member and its point'ofpivotal support on the bracket,in order to .permit the clutch activatingl member to have 'limitedvertical longitudinal movement. In connection with the first describedform of the invention and as illustrated in Figure 3, this movement'orclearance between the point of connection of the clutch rollerwith theclutch actuating member permits the clutch roller to center itselffreely in ywedging position between the arcuate wall 50 of thesupport 24f and the wall 58 of the block 52 so as to relieve excessive strain uponthe pivotal connection of the clutch actuating membert Itis alsokdesirable that the lever member'at its point of pivotal connectionlwitl'i the support 25 have slight clear- .a'nce in order to permitlimited relative longitudinal or lenthwise movement of the lever orlever member with 'respect to the support or bracket so that the clutchroller may urge or tion 8i is preferably fabricated of rubber, phenol`condensation product or other plastic and is y inem.

provided with a hollow portion Il of 8.,dimen' V sion tosnugly fit thelower extremity of the lever member, theapro'jections 19. engaging aninner wall of the 'gripportion .to retain 'the latter in proper positionon the lever member. In this` connection' it should. be noted that it ispreferable to employ ratchet type teeth on the lever meinber asillustrated as it. facilitates the assembiyl in driving 5o 'forcing thegrip member upon the (i0 to prevent ready removalof the grlpimemberlever me .the teeth being of such'shape as without 'disrupting ordistorting the interengaging wall of the'l grip member with the toothedportion ofthe rlever member. thismans of as'- sembly, the'grip membermay be easily/and quickly positioned and retained upon the lever memberwithoutthe use" of additional securing In Vthev form'of. the inventionillustrated in Figures '8 through 13, the clutch' actuatingand.

controlling member/6i' is of a configuration similar to theclutchactuating Amember 6i lhereinbefore describedfwith the modificationthat the `lower' extremity is curved to conform generally' tothecurvature of the adjacent portion of the grip wedge the block 52tightly in engagement with the arcuate wall 49 as illustrated inv/Figurel1 in'clutched .orbrake setting position without .placing substantialstrain upon the pivotal support of -theleven ,This clearance alsoprovides to form projections ori-teeth i9. grip P01- -ance between thebracket 24 and the lever member is illustrated .in Figures l0 and 11wherein the bushing is accommodated in a slightly enlarged circularopening 80 while theopening in the clutch actuating' member 6iis-slightly larger than the diameter' of th'e pin 28', --It is tobenoted upperlarcuate-surfac'e ofthe uniplanarirtion 24- that thevarious elements in brake lreleased position assume the positionasillustrated in Figure 16 wherein the-.clutch roller 6B issubstantially of bracket. I9.' When the parts are moved to brakesettingposition the various elements assume an arrangement asillustrated in' Figure 11y 'with the elutohrfduer so' in wedged positionleringins' the block 52 into frictional engagement with the upperarcuate wall of the portion 24 ofthe support.V The clearance about'thebushingk 25' is sufilcient to permit' this upwardim'ovement of the block62 into wedgingor clutched position. By

ing engagement' with block '52 and the 1ower 75 arcuate wall in` portion24 of the supportingl bracket, thus permitting block 52 to recede fromfrictional engagement with the upper arcuate wall so that the parts maybe permitted free Vmovement to the position illustrated in Figure 10.

vention modifications and different arrangements may be made other thanis' herein disclosed, and

the present disclosure isillustrative merely, the inventioncomprehending al1 variations thereof.

WhatI claim is: i 1. vAn emergency brake .control mechanism comprising asupport; a lever member depending from saidsupport; said lever having abody portion'inciuding a bar`like section and a portion including spacedlparallel projectionasaid projections adapted to straddle a portion ofsaid support and having pivotal .connection therewith; clutching meanscooperating with'said sup-V Port and said lever including a clutchroller;

clutch releasing means having pivotal connec-v tion with said levermember, said clutch'releasing means having vertically elongated slots;means cooperating with said clutch rollerr extending into said slots,said slots permitting in dependent movement of said' clutch roller withrespect tosaid clutchreleasing means when said clutch roller is moved toclutching position.

2. In combination, a' control mechanism in-^ cluding a support; a lever'member having plv--` otal connectionwith said support; an abutment onsaid lever member;'a` clutch roller cooperating between said support andsaid abutment for retaining the lever member in adjusted position; meansincluding a lever element plvotally connected to said lever member andextending substantially the length of said lever member and positionedadjacent thereto; said element being capable of movement independent ofsaid member for releasing said clutch roller.

3.- In combination, a lever mechanism including a support; a'leve'rmember pivotally asso ciated with said'sup1:ort;'said4 support having anarcuate slot therein; said lever having aportion positioned within'saidslot and normally capable of lslidable movement therein; a clutch roller.interposed between th portion of said leve memlber in said slot and alwall of said slot;,means' urging said clutch roller toward clutchingposi--l tion whereby `the portion of said lever extending in said slotis caused to irictionally engage a wall of saidslot; and clutchreleasing -means ari ranged tor relative movement independent of saidlever member for releasing said clutch roller.v

4. In combination. a lever terminatingat one end in spaced parallelprojections;` 'a clutch roller associated with'said projections; .-ahand grip, portion formed of phenolcondensation product 701 secured tothe other end of said lever; clutch controlling means'associated withsaid lever and having a. portion of U-shaped configuration adaptedtoistraddle .a porton of said lever; lsaid clutch controllingl meansyhaving a manipulating portion positionedk adjacentrthe grip portion ofsaid lever member.

5. In combination, a control mechanismincluding a support; said supporthaving an arcu- `erating with 4said lever member and said clutch4releasing meansnormally urging said clutch roller toward clutchingposition in engagement with a wall of said slot and said abutment.

.6. In combination, a control mechanism including a support; saidsupport having an arcuate slot therein; a lever member pivotallyconnected. to said support; a block' carried by said lever member; aclutch roller positioned in said slot andl cooperating with said block;clutch re# leasing means having pivotal connection with saidlever'member at the axis of connection of said lever member to thesupport; and spring means normally urging said clutch roller towardclutching position in engagement with a wall of said slot aid saidblock.

7. In combination, a control mechanism in- 'cluding a suppt; alevermember pivotally conf nected to said support; said support'having aclutching surface; clutch -means including a roller interposed betweensaid member and said clutching' surface to 'retain the control mechanismin adjusted position; a clutch releasing lever having pivotalarticulation with and .positioned adjacent said lever member; saidclutch releasing lever extending substantially fulll length of saidlever member anderminating in aA grip portion adjacent the extremity ofsaid lever member; said clutch releasing lever having cluding a`support;` said support having an arcuate slot therein; a lever memberconnected to 'said support and arranged 'foi'.limited lost motion withrespect thereto; clutch means -positioned-in saidv slot i clutchreleasing means having limited lost motion connection with said levermember; spring means cooperating with the lever member 'and thev clutchreleasing means normally urging said clutch means towarrdf clutchingposition. t 9. In, combination, a control mechanism. .in-

'cluding-a support; said support having an arcuate slot therein; vamember secured in said slot having a. clutch surface; a lever memberconnected to said support and arranged' for limited. 1

llost motion with respect theetoL, clutch means positioned in said-slotvand cooperating withsaid clutch surface; clutch .releasing means havinglimited lost motion connection with vsaid lever .member; spring meanscooperating with the lever member and the clutch releasing meansnormally urging said clutch means" towardy clutching position.

'10. An emergency brakecontrol mechanism comprising a support and havingan abutment ,the opening being larger than said pin; a clutch rollerassociated with said lever member, said clutch roller cooperating withsaid abutment surface and the support for retaining the lever member infixed positiomvclutch releasing means associated withsaid lever member;resilient means normally urging said clutch roller towardclutchingvposition, the connection betweenthe lever member and said pinproviding limited movement of said lever relative to said support whensaid clutch roller is in lever member retaining position. l

11. In combination, a control mechanism including a support having aslot therein; a lever g member having a clutchingv surface formedthereon' and pivotally connected to sai`d support; said slot having abounding surface of arcuate configuration; a clutch means cooperativelyassociated with an arcuate wall of the slot and the clutching surfaceupon said lever member; a clutch releasing means including an elementextending substantially full length 'of said lever member and adjacentthereto; and resilient means associated with said element for 'urgingsaid clutching means into clutching position withl the clutching surfaceof said lever member and an arcuate wall of said slot to. hold the-lever member in adjusted position.

12. In combination, a control mechanism including a support; a levermember provided .with a clutching surface and being articulated withsaid support, said'support havingl a slot therein, one of the boundingsurfaces of said slot being of arcuate configuration; a clutch meansdisposed between the arcuate surface of said slot and the clutchingsurface on said lever member for re` taining the latter in adjustedposition; and a clutch releasing means including a lever elementextending substantially full length of said lever member and adjacentthereto.

13. In combination, a control mechanism including a support, saidsupport having a slot of curved configuration therein; a lever'memberhaving a clutching surface and pivotally con- -sAMUELA-.sunm'-nected to said support; a clutch roller disposed

